If status is the main aspect that you are looking for, I would recommend joining BAs Continental Europe scheme. You will get silver status in almost no time at all since only 400 tier credits are required for Silver (300 renew) and then 800 (600 renew) for Gold rather than the normal 700(500) and 1700(1200) credits under the other BA schemes

In 1st class

JFK-HKG will give you 180 credits
HKG-LHR will give you 240 credits and give you silver status and your membership year will be reset and start from here as silver

LHR-LAX will give you 240 credits. You just need another 60 credits within 12 months to renew for another year or 560 to attain Gold status ( just 2 flights of 1-1999 miles distance will meet this requirement )

As far as getting A availability, I have had v little trouble. When I have had a ticket and wanted to do date changes where A was at 0, I have had it waitlisted and it has cleared within minutes

Dave

[This message has been edited by Dave Noble (edited 01-27-2003).]